FIFA World Cup 2010 - South Africa V/s France

Updated on June 22, 2010

South Africa shows red flag to France

The 2002 happening repeated in the case of France. In 2002
France came for World Cup football as the defending champion and slipped in
front of Senegal. From that upset they couldn’t come back in the tournament and
severely failed to qualify to second round. But in the next edition of world
cup football in 2006 they came back and again reached finals of the tournament
on the wings of Franc’s ever playmaker Zinadin Zidane. Now again in first round
itself they are returning like the repetition of history.

When the host South Africa also stunned France by 2-1 , and Uruguay
defeated Mexico it became the tears of French fans. The goals were scored by Khumelo in 20th minute, by Mphala in 37th minut. France's reply goal was by Maluda in 70th minute.The team that came lame in
qualifying rounds and finally qualified by a controversial goal , was ousted at
preliminary round itself like a poetic justice. Actually the teams performance
was very low and they didn’t deserve an entry to second round.

The team discipline also was very serious issue. The first
match being a draw , to qualify to second round a victory was needed against
Mexico. But the star striker whose presence in ground itself give a motivation , Theory Hentry was
kept in side bench through out the match. It is heard that it was due to a
quarrel with coach. The result was that Mexico won by 2-0.

After this match there came the real quake in French team.
The most faithful defender of the team Nicholas Analka ousted from the team
itself for scolding the main coach. Analka returned to his native place on next
day itself.

The French football federation accepted the decision. The
French team protested against the action by boycotting the training and
practice matches. Also the team physio resigned due to some other reasons. Thus
before start of the crucial match with South Africa the team experienced a number
of mishaps and with this they came today.